15 Creative Writing Programs for High School Students in Sydney
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 12 min read
A structured program can be a solid way to build skills outside the classroom while you are in high school. Programs help you prepare for future academics and career opportunities through advanced instruction, exposure to professional and educational spaces, and the chance to learn from experts. As a participant, you get to dive deeper into a field of choice and test your interests before college. If you are interested in creative writing, a program can help you explore a variety of genres, practices, and forms like stories, poems, screenplays, and essays.
Why should I join a creative writing program in high school?
Creative writing programs allow you to practice writing over a few weeks or days while challenging yourself to think creatively and refine your work. As a participant, you will develop writing, research, and communication skills that can help you beyond high school, for instance, while applying to colleges, during projects at college or at work, or for pursuing creative careers in media, journalism, fiction writing, or politics! You may learn how published authors work, engage in writing exercises in libraries, university classrooms, writing studios, and even find opportunities to publish or at least showcase your work. High school can also be a great time to start building your writing portfolio, and creative writing programs can help you do just that.
To help you find the right option, here we have listed 15 creative writing programs for high school students in Sydney.
Location: Your school or Story Factory Centre at Redfern (Sydney), New South Wales (NSW), or Parramatta (Greater Western Sydney), NSW
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: As decided by the school
Dates: Vary based on length requested by the school; one-off workshop running for two hours/ or term-long workshop running for eight weeks available
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in years 7 – 12 (applications need to be submitted by your school); eligible schools have an ICSEA below 1000, and/or significant numbers of students who are indigenous or from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Story Factory runs creative writing workshops for children and teens through schools, providing them with opportunities to participate in learning-based activities and refine writing skills and creativity. Based on your school’s preference, you can participate in a single two-hour workshop or two one-hour workshops each week during the term. During each session, you will receive individual guidance from volunteer tutors. You will craft a short piece on theme-focused topics, write poems and microfiction, build a character in a short story, or explore storytelling within the context of films, depending on your grade level. At the end of each workshop, your piece will be published in a book that you can take home.
Location: St Paul’s College at the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Location: Not specified
Cost / Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: 7 – 10 students per class
Program dates: Vary by session; two-week sessions in January and July
Application deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students ages 13 – 18
Immerse Education’s Creative Writing Sydney Summer School, part of the broader Academic Insights program, provides students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes led by academic experts at the University of Sydney. You will attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with your tutor, as well as undertake tours to local attractions. You will participate in writing exercises and workshops and explore various writing genres, including poetry and fiction. In the advanced track designed for 16 – 18-year-olds, you will work on storytelling techniques, editing, and character development. At the end of the program, you will receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Multiple locations across NSW
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies based on program type, typically up to 20 for some programs
Dates: Vary; typically, once a week during a school term
Application deadline: Rolling till spots fill
Eligibility: High school students in years 7 – 12 (applications need to be submitted by your school); eligible schools have an ICSEA below 1000, and/or significant numbers of students who are indigenous or from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Story Factory's after-school creative writing workshops are opportunities to explore creative writing with peers who share your writing interests. Depending on the program you join, you may write a poem based on a podcast or radio drama or craft a story around residents of a mysterious street. You will receive guidance and feedback from Story Factory storytellers and staff. You will also participate in activities to gain exposure to local culture and cuisine. Some workshops require you to engage in individual or collaborative work on a final published piece/professionally recorded piece.
Location: The Concourse, Chatswood, NSW | Sydney Town Hall, Sydney, NSW
Cost / Stipend: AUD 29 (USD 20) per student | Free tickets for schools with ICSEA < 1,000 attending Sydney Town Hall (limited availability)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Program dates: May 25 – 26
Application deadline: Not specified; early booking recommended for free tickets
Eligibility: High school students | Primarily Years 7–10, open to all secondary students
Secondary School Days is a one-day event held across two Sydney venues as part of the Sydney Writers' Festival, where you will attend five author presentations in a single day. You will hear from a mix of Australian and international YA and children's authors who talk about their books, their writing process, and the ideas behind their work. The most recent lineup includes authors writing across genres like thriller, fantasy, mystery, and romance. The program is designed to connect you with literature and encourage your own creative thinking and writing. Book signings are available at the end of each session.
Location: Carriageworks, Eveleigh, NSW
Cost / Stipend: $10 per student per session (up to three sessions); free for schools with ICSEA < 1,000
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Program dates: May 20
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to all students | Recommended for Years 11 and 12
Student Sessions is a one-day event held at Carriageworks in Eveleigh as part of the Sydney Writers' Festival, hosted in partnership with NESA and directly linked to the Stage 6 NSW English syllabus. You can attend one, two, or three 45-minute sessions across the day. You can choose from two tracks: The Craft of Writing, which covers short fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, and the Spotlight Series, which focuses on critical response, studying Shakespeare, and the editing process from manuscript to published book. Each session is a panel discussion featuring practising authors, critics, editors, and academics, moderated by experienced secondary school educators to ensure the conversations connect directly to what you are studying in school.
Location: University of Sydney CCE Building, Sydney, NSW (online option available)
Cost / Stipend: AUD 480 (USD 335)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: 8 – 20 students per class
Program dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application deadline: Not specified; open enrollment with rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Open to all and designed for both beginners and experienced writers
This course, offered by the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), is an opportunity for both beginners and advanced learners who want to build creative writing skills. During the program, an experienced professional writer will guide you through various creative writing genres, including fiction and non-fiction, as well as poetry and prose. Learning modules cover writing styles, sentence structure, and revision and editing techniques. You will receive feedback from the course facilitator and other participants. Upon completing at least 70% of the course, you will receive a statement of completion.
Location: Exact location TBA; typically in Newtown (Sydney) and online via Zoom
Cost / Stipend: AUD 440 (USD 310)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: 8 – 20 students per class
Program dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application deadline: Not specified; open enrollment with rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in Years 10 – 12 | Ages ~15 – 18
This is a two-day short course offered by the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education, covering the skills you need to write stronger essays for assignments and exams across a range of subjects. Over 16 hours of instruction spread across two days, you will work on how to plan and structure your essays, develop a clear argument, and write in a formal academic voice using appropriate vocabulary and punctuation. Your teacher will walk you through NESA's syllabus requirements and marking guidelines, so you can understand what examiners are looking for and practice with past exam questions. You will receive one-on-one feedback on your written pieces throughout the course.
Location: Workshops held at multiple locations across Western Sydney's libraries
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Program dates: Vary based on location; typically during April school holidays
Application deadline: Workshops: no deadline | Competition: April 27 (applications open March 13)
Eligibility: Students ages 10 – 18+ | Residents of Western Sydney and Wingecarribee Shire
WestWords and WestLit Libraries collaborate to host Living Stories, a creative writing competition that can lead to publication and cash prizes for winning participants. You can submit a fiction short story, a narrative non-fiction story, a personal essay, or a poem to compete. Whether you decide to compete or not, you can attend a free writing workshop to learn how to create a writing piece. During these 90-minute workshops, you will find opportunities to build creative writing skills, with a focus on poetry and short stories.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Cost: AUD 200 (USD 139) for groups up to 15 | AUD 360 (USD 251) for groups of 16 – 30 students | No cost for Australian schools with an ICSEA value of less than 1000/a special school, as defined by ACARA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Set by the school; sessions run for 1.5 hours, Monday – Friday.
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Kindergarten through secondary students; applications are to be submitted by schools.
State Library of NSW's Creative Writing Adventures are learning programs designed for school students who want to explore creative writing while using the library’s collections. During the sessions, you will tour the library with your classmates and pause at designated points to participate in writing activities designed for specific grade levels. You will learn language rules, explore ways to express your ideas creatively, fine-tune your text, and develop pieces for a range of audiences. You will also sharpen skills in imaginative expression and critical analysis. Your creative piece will be compiled with that of your peers electronically, so you can share it with others.
Location: Hunters Hill/Avalon Beach, Sydney, NSW
Cost: Starts at AUD 140 (USD 97)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small class sizes
Dates: Vary based on school holidays; two sessions per workshop
Application deadline: Open till spots fill
Eligibility: Workshops for Teen Writers are open to students in Years 7 – 10; other workshops are also available for younger students.
Inkling Writing Studio's School Holiday Workshops are creative writing classes for kids and teenagers looking for skill development in writing and storytelling. Here, you will gain insight into different types of stories and how they are structured while also improving skills in sentence construction, spelling, and vocabulary. You will participate in a diverse range of activities, such as discussions on books that you read, playing word games, and free writing. You will learn how to come up with a story or poem, starting with planning, creating a first draft with a plot and characters, and revising and editing it to develop a polished piece. You will receive feedback from your instructor and also learn how to appreciate the creative work of peers throughout the workshop.
Location: Sydney Community College Rozelle Campus, NSW
Cost: AUD 279 (USD 194)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 11 – 25
Application deadline: Open till spots fill
Eligibility: Open to all over 16
This creative writing course at Sydney Community College is an in-person short course designed to help you build creativity and develop writing skills with a focus on the traditional elements of fairy tales. You will start the program by gaining insight into the origins of fairy tales and exploring the connection between nature and fairy tales through a walking tour of nearby Callan Park. The classroom learning modules cover common fairy tale themes and characters, and allow you to develop characters for your own unique fairy tale. You will receive feedback from peers to revise and edit your fairy tale. In the process, you will build writing proficiency and develop your own techniques in storytelling.
Location: Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, NSW (after-school + online options available)
Cost: $110 (USD 77) – AUD 180 (USD 127) with NSW Creative Kids vouchers accepted
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Vary by workshop, but typically scheduled during school holidays; check details here.
Application deadline: Open till spots fill
Eligibility: Students, ages 6 – 15
The Writing Workshop runs a diverse range of educational writing workshops led by published authors, for kids and teens ages 6 – 15. Here, you will gain opportunities to develop creativity and enhance literacy. Each workshop focuses on a unique theme, allowing you to learn about various styles and genres, from nature-inspired work to spy stories. You will practice writing stories and poems, and may even engage in an outdoor observation walk to get some inspiration. You will listen to the creative pieces written by peers, offer feedback to peers, and, in turn, receive feedback for your own piece.
Location: Writing NSW, Lilyfield (Sydney), NSW
Cost: AUD 690 (USD 481); discounted pricing available for members
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Typically, up to 20 students/course
Dates: February 24 – March 31 (six Tuesdays)
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students who are at least 18 years old
The nonprofit Writing NSW runs The Art of Poetry Course, led by poet Judith Beveridge and designed for high school students who want to boost their creative writing skills in poetry. During the course, you will read assigned poetry, attend lectures, and participate in critiquing workshops. You will gain insight into the form and structure of a poem and gain exposure to the works of a diverse range of poets. You will learn about lyric poetry, the impact of figurative imagery, rhythm, and sounds in a poem, and the role of lines. You will also explore how to revise a poem and take it forward.
Location: Kingsford International Institute (KII), Sydney, NSW
Cost: AUD 1,645 (USD 1,147); a monthly payment plan is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Three-month program starting on February 14 (runs on Saturdays)
Application deadline: Open till spots fill
Eligibility: Students, ages 18 and up
This certificate course offered by the Australian Academy of Creative Writing is designed for high school students new to creative writing. As a participant, you will develop writing skills in the fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry genres while attending classes led by industry experts, working on assignments, and establishing a writing routine. You will learn how to develop a plot and your characters, adopt suitable writing and self-editing techniques, and explore playwriting and scriptwriting styles. You will also get a three-year access to an online learning centre with instructional videos, written content, and assignments. At the end, you will receive a course certificate at the annual graduation ceremony.
Location: Universal English College, Sydney, NSW
Cost / Stipend: AUD 550 (USD 388) per week
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified; 10–18 students per class
Program dates: Year-round; flexible durations from 2 to 52 weeks
Application deadline: Rolling admissions; new students start every Monday
Eligibility: Students ages 12 – 17
The High School Preparation Program offered by the Universal English College is a full-time English language program designed to help you build the skills you need to transition to an Australian high school. You will attend classes Monday through Friday, spending 25 hours a week on grammar, writing, speaking, and reading, all aligned with the Australian high school curriculum. Each month focuses on a different theme, such as Indigenous Australia, environmental issues, or the Australian government, and you will take field trips related to those topics twice a month. While not a typical creative writing program, the program does offer writing instruction, helping you pick up the skills required for essay writing. On completing 20 weeks or more, you will be eligible to take the AEAS Test, which many Australian schools use to assess whether you're ready to enroll.
One other option—Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Immerse Education logo